updated 01:14 pm EDT, Wed August 28, 2013

Wii U discount ahead of Xbox One launch

Nintendo is reportedly preparing to cut the price of its Wii U Deluxe console package down to $300 from its current price of $350. The discount will be available beginning September 20, giving the company several months to bolster sales ahead of increasing competition in November as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are expected to arrive on the market. It remains unclear if basic bundle, which already costs $300, will receive a similar discount.

Google+ Hangouts to get HD video

Google is reportedly preparing to upgrade its Google+ Hangouts feature with HD video, according to a GigaOMreport. Support for 720p video is said to have already arrived for some users, ahead of a wider official rollout. A Google executive noted that the company needed to transition from H.264 to the open VP8 codec to simultaneously handle HD feeds from up to 10 participants.